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The Fundamental TeachingThe most essential teaching of all is the teaching of a thing lent, a thing borrowed. It would not be too much to say that the understanding of this teaching amounts to the understanding of almost all of Oyasama's teachings. In addition, if we can not merely understand this teaching but also put it into practice, people will look upon us as a person who lives out Oyasama's teachings.149 (1986): 29th Tenrikyo Teachers Convention
From God the Parent's standpoint, our bodies are things lent and, from our standpoint, they are things borrowed. I cannot help but feel that this teaching of a thing lent, a thing borrowed, is the most important of all the teachings of Oyasama. 151 (1988): Azuma Grand Church Autumn Grand Service
The Attitude of BorrowersOur bodies are things lent by God the Parent, things we borrowed from God the Parent. Since we borrowed them, we borrowers are expected to take very good care of them and use them with the greatest care. This is to say that we must use our bodies in a way that makes God the Parent happy and content. In this respect, I feel it is important not to cause God the Parent any burden which disturbs God's workings within our bodies.150 (1987): Spring Grand Service
It is indeed God the Parent's blessing that we can use our bodies as we wish, whether it be seeing things with our eyes, hearing things with our ears, smelling things with our nose, chewing things with our teeth, doing something using our hands, or moving with our legs. But please ask yourselves if you live each day with a constant awareness of these marvelous blessings of God the Parent. It is likely that you pay little attention to them. So, I should like all of you to make the effort, once in a while, to perceive these as blessings. Then, in proportion to the frequency with which you make this effort, your spiritedness will increase and the value of your faith will become clearer. If you are not aware of God's blessings, you are no different from people who have no faith. 151 (1988): Tsusaka Branch Church
The Freedom of the MindNot only did God the Parent create us human beings, but--out of the parental desire to see us live the Joyous Life and share in that joy--God gave us the freedom of the mind, which enables us to use the bodies we borrowed in any way we wish. The fact that God created us to enjoy seeing our Joyous Life may make us feel that, had God limited the use of our minds in a way to make us use them only for the purpose of living joyously, then God could have seen our Joyous Life quickly without going through so much difficulty. Why is it, then, that, though retaining full responsibility for the bodies lent to us, God allowed us to use our mind freely? Instead of forcing us to follow God's directions by tying us up and pulling us along, God gave us a great deal of freedom, enabling us to move about on our own initiative. I feel that God the Parent wants us to realize the Joyous Life quickly by using our minds freely and unlimitedly. The very thought of this makes me marvel at the profundity and breadth of the Parent's loving care.150 (1987): Tenri Seminary Graduation Ceremony
Our bodies are things lent by God the Parent, things we borrowed from God. We can almost always use our bodies in the way we want. We must bear in mind, however, that it is God the Parent's workings that enable our bodies to move in the manner we want. This, I should like to stress, lies at the root of the freedom of the mind we were given. 153 (1990): Boys and Girls Association Leaders Meeting
I feel that there are three viewpoints or, rather, reference points in teaching the truth of a thing lent, a thing borrowed. First, God the Parent's workings within our bodies enable us to live. Second, if we want our bodies to be replete with God the Parent's workings, we must make good use of them on our own initiative, which is to say that we must not be lazy or idle. Third, if we want God the Parent's workings within our bodies anytime and anywhere, we must focus our attention on God the Parent. 153 (1990): Boys and Girls Association Leaders Meeting |
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